Flood victims benefit from Synod generosity
Some of the worst ever torrential rain fell the day before Down and Dromore Synod met in Moira Parish Centre on Wednesday 13th June 2007. One of the areas in the diocese to suffer flash flooding was East Belfast. The plight of many people who had their homes and belongings destroyed by the rising flood water was to the fore at the Synod and the following resolution was passed: ‘This Synod wishes to respond to the suffering experienced in East Belfast as a result of flood-water on Tuesday 12 June 2007 and give the opportunity to individuals and organisations to help through a fund to be administered by East Belfast Besom, a part of Willowfield Parish Community Association.' £1,154 was collected from Synod members for the fund.
The preacher at the Holy Communion service was Father Nigel from our link diocese of Albany, who with Bishop Bill Love (Albany) and the Revd Elizabeth Hewitt and the Revd Brian Anderson, representing the Methodist Church, were Bishop's guests.
In his Presidential Address Bishop Harold Miller focussed on his decade as Bishop of Down and Dromore - he celebrated his 10th anniversary on 25th April. In his address Bishop Harold reflected on the changes in Northern Ireland, the Anglican Communion and the Diocese during his episcopacy. Click here to see Bishop Harold's full address
Northern Ireland: Bishop Harold mentioned how important the ‘middle ground' risk takers were in reaching where we are at today; how the victims of the Troubles should not be forgotten; how visionary voices are needed for our ‘shared' future with churches needing to be part of it and the issue of total paramilitary decommissioning.
The Anglican Communion: The Bishop referred to the issues that can't be ignored; the general unhappiness surrounding invites to the Lambeth 2008 and the fragile state of the Communion.
The Diocese of Down & Dromore: He urged the diocese to stop talking about decline and to focus on the positives - the increasing numbers in leadership roles; the rise in confirmations, the evidence that parish income has grown at twice the rate of inflation and the many new and fresh approaches being introduced into evening worship.
Three presentations took place during the afternoon session:
An open platform on ‘Conversations with God' provided an opportunity for those who wanted to share their experiences, examples of which included the warmth of welcome in particular churches, prayer healing teams, outreach in local community centres and a Nite Reach in Banbridge which provides Christian love within a safe haven to young people leaving local nightclubs
Fields of Life, which was in the form of a DVD presentation talked thorough by Fields of Life director, Trevor Stevenson, enabled Synod members to see the work being done in East Africa and the difference made to the lives of the 2,000 young people being sponsored. He stressed that the future of Uganda was in educating their young people.
An Eco Congregations presentation was given by the Revd David Humphries, rector of St Molua's in Stormont. St Molua's was the first church in Ireland to be awarded the EcoCongregation Award for Environmental Stewardship. In his presentation David emphasised that we are ‘called to be faithful stewards of our earthly homes' and encouraged parishes to ‘think globally, act locally'.
Towards the end of the Synod meeting the following resolution was passed during the Down and Connor and Dromore Diocesan Board of Education report: ‘This Synod to send a letter to the Christian Institute to assure them of our support and prayers in the current judicial review of the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2006'.